Police Capture 15th Suspect in Maharashtra Teacher Eligibility Test Security Breach
Law enforcement officials arrested Sonu Kumar Kisanlal Diwakar, a key associate of the alleged mastermind behind the TET examination leak. The arrest follows a multi-state pursuit involving the Maharashtra Special Task Force and operatives in Uttar Pradesh.
The Agra Connection and the Paper Trail
Maharashtra Police achieved a significant breakthrough in the Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) leak investigation on July 27, 2026, by apprehending 34-year-old Sonu Kumar Kisanlal Diwakar. Investigators identify Diwakar as a former employee of Mahim Patran Private Limited, an Agra-based printing facility. Despite leaving his position at the press two years ago, Diwakar allegedly leveraged his internal connections to facilitate the leak.
The criminal chain of custody involved several layers of personnel. Police reports indicate that two active press employees, identified as Babulal and Nicky, successfully extracted the examination papers. They handed the documents to Diwakar and an accomplice named Sanjay, who then delivered the materials to the alleged operation kingpin, Bijendra Kumar Gupta.
Extended Pursuit and Judicial Custody
The Special Task Force (STF) conducted a focused manhunt for Diwakar over a 20-day period. For nearly three weeks, a dedicated unit remained stationed in Agra while the suspect moved between the Delhi and Agra regions to evade capture. Deputy Commissioner of Police Pavan Bansod confirmed that the suspect finally appeared with a Delhi-based attorney on Monday.
- Date of Formal Arrest: July 27, 2026
- Legal Status: Placed under magisterial custody; scheduled for court appearance on July 28.
- Network Status: 15 individuals arrested to date, including the primary suspect and his wife.
Ongoing Investigation into the Exam Racket
The arrest of Diwakar follows the July 25 capture of Bijendra Kumar Gupta in Bihar. Authorities believe Diwakar served as the operational bridge between the printing facility and the wider distribution network. "We will be able to get more information about his further involvement once we interrogate him," stated DCP Bansod. Law enforcement units continue to track remaining suspects linked to the breach to dismantle the entire fraudulent infrastructure.
Source: The Hindu — Home
